Pacsafe MeshSafe B200

Thieves can’t slash through the steel mesh lining in this pack’s front panel and straps

The Pacsafe MeshSafe B200 antitheft backpack is designed to hold a 15-inch laptop computer and other gear. A major advantage to any backpack—even one without added theft-prevention features— is that it doesn’t look like a laptop bag. Our 15-inch MacBook Pro fit fine inside the B200’s removable laptop sleeve, but not quite as snugly as we would have liked. Ditto for a 12-inch iBook.

The bag’s antitheft features include a steel mesh lining (called eXomesh) inside the lower front and bottom panels to protect items from being taken from the bag if it gets slashed in those spots, steel wires in the shoulder straps to guard against slashing, a shoulder strap that can be quickly anchored around a secure fixture to prevent someone from running off with the bag, and clips with locks to secure the zippers from pickpockets.

When we went at the bag with a steak knife, we were disappointed. There’s no eXomesh at the top of the bag, and cutting a hole wide enough to remove our old iBook took only seconds. The bag’s bottom and lower front and shoulder straps resisted repeated knife swipes, however, making us feel fairly secure that our MacBook Pro would be protected in this bag—at least for a few minutes—if we locked it to a café table leg, a library carrel, or other similar spot.

The B200 is a well-designed bag that doesn’t advertise the fact that a laptop might be inside. The zipper locks can foil pickpockets, and it might even be amusing to watch someone try to snatch a well-anchored bag. But if an assailant threatens us with a blade, we’ll hand over the bag and run like mad.

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Antonio

July 07, 2008 at 12:43pm

Why a solid rating if a thief can rip right through the top?
It sounds great for general use against pick-pockets, but the mesh means little, at least to me, if they can still get in through the top of the bag and nab your laptop anyhow. That considered, I'd end up where I'm at with my current bag: watching it like a hawk.

Travelling Matt

July 07, 2008 at 6:58pm

These bags are designed to stop thieves that will razor blade your bag whilst you are carrying it, that is why the mesh is in the bottom of the bag as that is how thieves will rob you. In Rome a thief used a razor to cut the bottom of my bag and got my ipod and some small change. These bags are specifically designed for that scenario.

It is not designed to be fort knox where you can leave it and it unattended and it will stop anyone getting inside.

Antonio

July 07, 2008 at 11:00pm

Ah, I hadn't thought of that... probably because I don't typically use a backpack to carry my laptop (I use a Timbuk2 handbag), but now that you mention it, yeah, it makes perfect sense.

And I would never leave a laptop unattended, which was part of my point.